The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Announcing the election manifesto yesterday the leaders of the Jatiya Jukto Front pledged to establish a self-reliant, non-communal and democratic country free from hunger, corruption and terrorism.

Bikalpadhara Bangla-desh, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Gonoforum, Bangladesh Kallyan Party (BKP) and Bangladesh Forward Party (BFP) comprise the Jukto Front, a newly formed political alliance.

The leaders of the front also called upon the people of the country to elect candidates of the front in the parliamentary election on December 29 for establishing rule of law and a dynamic, functional and people oriented administration. Pankaj Bhattacharya, presidium member of Gonoforum, read out the 39-point manifesto at the VIP lounge of the Jatiya Press Club.

Prof AQM Badrudozza Chowdhury, president, Major (Retd) Abdul Mannan, general secretary of Bikalpadhara, Dr Kamal Hossain, president of Gonoforum, Dr Ferdous Ahmed Qureshi, president of Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Major Gen (Retd) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, chairman, Bangladesh Kallyan Party, Mostafa Amin, chairman of Bangladesh Forward Party (BFP) and Md Nawab Ali of Gonoforum among others, were present on the occasion.

With a slogan to change the sick politics and establish a healthy and accountable political system in the country, the manifesto also promised to contain prices of essential items, increase food production by giving subsidy on agriculture inputs, create new jobs, uproot terrorism, establish the spirit of the liberation war, make education for all, allocate more fund for health sector, gear up economic growth, reforming of land, effective steps to expand industry, trade and export, measures to solve problems in electricity, coal, gas and energy sector and creation of employment, particularly in rural areas and protecting the national interest.

Prof Badrudozza Chowdhury called upon the people to elect honest, dedicated and committed to the people candidates in the polls.

Dr Kamal Hossain urged citizens to remain united to achieve and maintain a functionary democracy in the country.